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Post by bushfire on Feb 8, 2023 3:04:34 GMT -7
G'day all,
I hope you are well today.
I have a novice question, please excuse my ignorance on the matter.
In instances where horses weren't used how did people carry water, food etc. And then pack out meat if they'd been hunting for the family in the 18th century. I'd like to slowly get more period correct purely for my own enjoyment.
Wearing a horn and bag over my shoulder with a modern pack makes for an odd experience. Moreover the straps of the pack interfere with the horn and bag.
I also don't have period clothing, that's something I'd love to do someday. I priced some up but it was going to be over $1000 my money and for that I am content enough for the time being wearing drab brown/green. I figure getting meat out should be the priority.
Many thanks
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 8, 2023 5:33:41 GMT -7
My friend, you have opened a giant barrel of monkeys. These are great questions!
As to carrying - you have already deduced how. No horse or mule - everything was carried on you back in snapsack, knapsack, haversack, blanket roll, market wallet, etc. Could also be carried in a canoe, boat, pirogue, wheelbarrow, etc. Unfortunately, straps are the the brutal reality and finding how it works best for you will vary. I put on my horn & gun bag then put my pack over these straps - with a little cursing, I can find a position for everything that is tolerable and even somewhat comfortable...
As to clothes - with a little patience, you can make all your clothes at a much reduced cost (as a poor university student I did just that). Hand or machine sewing (or a combination of both) will do the trick. The first step is deciding who, what, when and where you are and then sourcing the proper materials for the items. For the 18th century, I highly recommend Beth Gilgun's book Tidings from the 18th Century. Many items of clothing have been discussed on this site and the basic shirt (with pattern) has been posted (https://minuteman.boards.net/thread/103/mens-shirt) - look in the Clothing of the 18/19th Century subforum. The shirt is the base of your kit, though relatively unchanging, has nuances that put it in one period or another (usually in collar & cuffs).
In short - ask away. Specific questions and your personna information will be critical in focusing the responses...
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Post by brokennock on Feb 8, 2023 8:12:34 GMT -7
A lot to cover in one topic and reply. I agree with you on the difficulty of dealing with across body gear such as shot pouch and horn while wearing a two strap backpack/rucksack. I wear my blanket roll when I carry one with my hopus strap around my deltoid and across my upper chest horizontally. It os more comfortable than I imagined when I 1st read of it and doesn't seem to interfere as much with other gear. I plan to make my snap-sack in a manner intended to carry the same way. So right there is another answer..... The snap-sack was very common long before Colonial American times and well after. There are many, many, paintings and sketches from the period in which they can be found. Especially for civilian use. A rucksack/backpack utilizing two shoulder straps seems to be more military, but not exclusively.... Bringing me to carrying water. Canteens also seem to be more of a military thing. I don't get the impression that civilians carried water all that much. Relying on natural sources, and a flask of rum... Natural water sources is not really a safe option for us anymore, at least not here (rum is though 😃) So boiling or treatment of some kind needs to be accounted for. I have a couple of extra large tin cups to boil in and a normal size one to drink or eat from,,, just don't cross contaminate untreated water with your drinking and eating cup/utensils. When I do carry water I use a gourd water bottle. There are some topics and posts about them elsewhere on this forum.      The last picture should give some scale. I don't usually carry water on a hunt (although I really should stay better hydrated) but the last part of our spring turkey season can be hot enough some years to make it necessary. The leather flap tucks in behind my sash and carries the bottle quite well, but I've since added a shoulder strap for when I'm not wearing the sash. That's all for now,,, probably too much already, lol. |
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990 
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Post by Keith on Feb 8, 2023 18:38:39 GMT -7
I have not noticed any particular problem carrying gear & supplies, I find the knapsack is best with the blanket roll tied to the straps. Carting meat out on foot I have carried goats & roos over my shoulders, I have also used a travois which works very well & I get less blood on my clothes. Keith. I would post some images, but my image server is down!!! Back up again    My gourd water bottle hangs from my belt.   This is actually a copy I made of a Cymro/Welsh Drag Cart. |
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 9, 2023 5:39:10 GMT -7
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Post by hawkeyes on Feb 9, 2023 10:28:28 GMT -7
Slap on a clout with mocs and you'll be good to go for period attire!
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 9, 2023 11:39:46 GMT -7
Slap on a clout with mocs and you'll be good to go for period attire! Until your first (or tenth) high-speed breechclout wedgie. You'll wear breeches like us "civilized" folk.... |
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Post by hawkeyes on Feb 9, 2023 18:39:50 GMT -7
Slap on a clout with mocs and you'll be good to go for period attire! Until your first (or tenth) high-speed breechclout wedgie. You'll wear breeches like us "civilized" folk.... Ya'll just haven't embraced true freedom! Haha! |
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 11, 2023 15:56:30 GMT -7
A glance inside my pack:         The unopened bags contain: Dried apples Dried Plums Dried Blueberries Dried Hominy Cornmeal Barley Fishing kit Gun cleaning kit, First aid kit Water filter Magical paper Large waxed bag of shredded Cottonwood inner bark, candle stubs, pitchwood, charred punky wood and fungus in a tin I throw in a 4x4" piece of bacon and some fresh meat, add my blanket on a tumpline and I'm good to go... |
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 11, 2023 16:19:30 GMT -7
My basic clothing:  Moccasins, jackets, vests/waistcoats, coats may vary according to season or historical period... |
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Post by spence on Feb 11, 2023 17:41:43 GMT -7
hawkeyes said, "Ya'll just haven't embraced true freedom! Haha!" You tell 'em, hawkeyes...!  Spence |
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Post by brokennock on Feb 12, 2023 8:16:39 GMT -7
A glance inside my pack: The unopened bags contain: Dried apples Dried Plums Dried Blueberries Dried Hominy Cornmeal Barley Fishing kit Gun cleaning kit, First aid kit Water filter Magical paper Large waxed bag of shredded Cottonwood inner bark, candle stubs, pitchwood, charred punky wood and fungus in a tin I throw in a 4x4" piece of bacon and some fresh meat, add my blanket on a tumpline and I'm good to go... But, but, but,,,, where is the para-cord, duc-tape, canteen cup, heavy knife for batoning firewood, tampons for first aid bleeding control, fero-rod (x3 because 2 is 1 and 1 is none), and mystery material fire starter chemically impregnated tinder?! You can't last more than 3.445 hours in the woods with what you have.... What if... What if.... What if....  ?? 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆 |
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 12, 2023 8:42:59 GMT -7
But, but, but,,,, where is the para-cord, duc-tape, canteen cup, heavy knife for batoning firewood, tampons for first aid bleeding control, fero-rod (x3 because 2 is 1 and 1 is none), and mystery material fire starter chemically impregnated tinder?! You can't last more than 3.445 hours in the woods with what you have.... What if... What if.... What if.... ?? 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆 Wellllll...I have 25-30 feet of linen cord I made, there is some Vet-wrap in the First aid kit as well a cloth strips in my gun bag, a small tin cup for tea (that goes along with a Kettle that is tied outside the pack), a large hand-forged knife on my belt that could be used for batonning (I'd rather use my hammerpoll axe), flint & steel, gun lock, burning glass and a thong for friction fire gives me 4 and the charred fungus is nearly impossible to put out once it catches a spark. I figure I could make it a good 4 hours before dying of hunger, thirst and exposure...  |
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Post by hawkeyes on Feb 12, 2023 8:51:34 GMT -7
A glance inside my pack: The unopened bags contain: Dried apples Dried Plums Dried Blueberries Dried Hominy Cornmeal Barley Fishing kit Gun cleaning kit, First aid kit Water filter Magical paper Large waxed bag of shredded Cottonwood inner bark, candle stubs, pitchwood, charred punky wood and fungus in a tin I throw in a 4x4" piece of bacon and some fresh meat, add my blanket on a tumpline and I'm good to go... But, but, but,,,, where is the para-cord, duc-tape, canteen cup, heavy knife for batoning firewood, tampons for first aid bleeding control, fero-rod (x3 because 2 is 1 and 1 is none), and mystery material fire starter chemically impregnated tinder?! You can't last more than 3.445 hours in the woods with what you have.... What if... What if.... What if.... ?? 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆 My thoughts as well... This is utterly unbelievable! |
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Post by hawkeyes on Feb 12, 2023 8:52:42 GMT -7
hawkeyes said, "Ya'll just haven't embraced true freedom! Haha!" You tell 'em, hawkeyes...! Spence Spence, you are a gem! This gentleman is how it's done! Haha! Worth noting, extremely comfortable garment IMO, yes sometimes... drafty. |
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